Cigar feed



June 1, 1937. J. A. NEUM AIR 8 CIGAR FEED I Filed Sept. 29, 1934 4Sheets-Sheet 1 TTORNEY June 'l, 1937- J. A. NEUMAIR CIGAR FEED .FiledSept. 29,- 1934 A Sheets-Sheet 2 QM w INVEN O i9 M V TTORNEY June 1,1937 J. A. NEUMAIR C IGAR FEED Filed Sept. 29, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet '5June 1, 1937. J. A. NEUMA'IR 2,082,352 1 CIGAR FEED Filed Sept. 29, 19544 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTO 4% Patented June 1, 1937 iTED STATES :PATETFries 2.1582352 crcaa FEED Application September 29, 1934, Serial No.746,234

Claims.

and swing them through an arc of 90 degrees or other desired angle, anddeliver themv to the con- ,veyor which advances the cigars to thebanding and wrapping mechanisms of the machine. With this and otherobjects not specifically mentioned in view the invention consists incertain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described andthen specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification andin which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts: I

Fig. 1 is a partial side view of a wrapping and banding machine providedwith the improved cigar feed;

Fig. 2 is a partial end view of the same; Fig. 3 is a detail view of thecigar feed showing the turn-table which swings the cigars through an arcof 90 degrees; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the turn-table showing the cigar receiving anddischarging stations thereof.

3 In carrying the invention into effect there is' provided a pair ofspaced endless belts'adapted to feed a row of cigars sidewise, aturn-table revoluble about a vertical axis and provided with a pluralityf sets of horizontal jaws at equal frames 28 and 29 of the combinedwrapping and 40 intervals thereon, each set being adapted to grip acigar inserted therebetween, means for transporting the leading cigarfrom said row and inserting it into the set of jaws then at the receiving station of the turn-table, mechanism for periodically turning theturn-table about its vertical axis through a fraction of one revolutionto carry the gripped cigar to the discharging station of the turn-table,a turret revoluble about a horizontal axis and provided with sets ofradial grippers adapted to receive cigars, a device for ejecting thecigar from the set of jaws at the discharging station of the turn-tableand inserting it into a set of grippers on the turret, a conveyoradapted to carry the cigars to band-applying position, and an ejectorfor transferring cigars (c1. lea-21c) v from the turret to the conveyor.In the best constructions contemplated said means includes a pair ofreciprocable slides movable into the space between the endless belts,and cam-actuated fingers on the slides for clamping the cigar 5 to theslides, whereby it will be lodged in the set of jaws at the receivingstation of the turn-table during the retreating stroke of the slides,and ,there is also provided means for simultaneously opening the sets ofjaws at the receiving and discharging stations of the transfer orturn-table.

These various means and parts may be widely. varied in construction forthe particular mechanism selected to illustrate the invention is but oneof many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The inventiontherefore, is not to be restricted to the specific construction shownand described. I

Referring to the drawings, the cigars as in the combined wrapping andbanding machine form- 20 ing the subject matter of my Belgian Patent No;395,520 and my prior application, S. N. 629,959 filed August 22, 1932,are placed in bulk into a magazine and byysuitable means are deliveredrow byrow onto {the horizontally spaced feeding belts l0 (Fig. 2),,.'running over intermittently driven pulleys l l on shaft l2 and overidler pulleys, not shown. The cigars also pass underan endless top guidebelt l3 running over an intermittently driven pulleylii on shaft 55andover idler pulleys, not shown. A gear IS on shaft l2 drives a gear I?on the shaft l5.

The shaft l8 constituting the main drive shaft of the cigar feed carriesa series of cams I9, 20 and 2|. Cam l9-engages a roller 22 canied by thebell crank lever 25 fulcrumed on the stud 24 mounted in the erid frame25 which is carried by the brackets 26 and 21 attached to the sidebanding machine. The end frame 25 is also secured to the magazine frame30. The vertical arm of the bell crank lever 23 carries a link 3! whichactuates an arm 32 mounted on a cross shaft 33 suitably supported inbearing brackets, not shown. A pair of spaced blocks 36, attached toshaft 33, carry the fingers 35 which arethereby periodically loweredinto position to obstruct the advance of the cigars on belt III. A pairof arms 36 also attached to shaft 33 carry pins 3? which encounter thelugs 38 on the hubs of the fingers 39, loose on shaft I5, when the arms88 are depressed, thus lifting the fingers 39 from the cigars on beltl0. When the arms 38 are raised, springs 40 spanned from posts in thearms 36 to posts in the lugs 38 return the fingers 39 to I theiroriginal position in which they press the cigars immediately behind theleading cigar down on the belt I in front of guide belt I3 while thebelts I0 and I3 are at rest and until the leading 5 cigar has beenremoved as hereinafter described, whereupon the movement of the belts l0and I3 is resumed and the fingers 39 rise while the fingers 3? swingdown into position to obstruct the next 0 gar.

The shaft I8 drives a sprocket 4I engaging the chain 42 and thus drivinga sprocket 43 mounted on a shaft 44 supported in bearings 45 of thebracket 21. A crank 46 fastened to the end of shaft 44 is connected by arod'41 to a lug 48 of the driving member of a conventional ball clutchunit" on shaft I2 supported in the frames 30.

The down stroke of rod 41 causes the ball clutch 49 to engage and turnshafts I2 and I5. Upon the completion of its down or driving stroke, thearm 41 begins its upward stroke, thus disengaging the ball clutch 49 andpermitting the shafts I2-and I5 to remain stationary. In this manner, anintermittent driving motion is imparted to the shafts l2 and I 5.

A pinion 50 mounted on shaft 44 meshes with a gear 5| carried by ashaft52 supported'in bearings of the frames 30. The gear 5I in turndrives a gear train transmission, not shown, which drives the main shaftof a cigar magazine of the type shown in my co-pending application S. N.616,109 filed June 8, 1932. 1 v

The mini 20 (Fig; a) mounted on shaft I8, actuates a roller 53 carriedby a cam lever 54. The lever 54 is fulcrumed on a stud 55 supported in abearing 56 ,of the.bracket 26 and is connected to the bell-crank lever51 by means of an adjustable rod 68, lever 51 being pivotally mounted ona stud 58 carried by the block 59 of the vertical stationary rod 60. Inthe upper end of lever 51 isset a pin 6| which carries a link 62, theother end of link 62; carrying a pin 63 on which is pivotally mounted agripper finger 64. On the free end of finger 64 there is provided aroller 65 which engages the base of an ejector plate 66. The pin 63 isheld in a slide 61 which operates in tracks 68 and 69 carried by a block10. The slide 61, by means of a tie bar 1I (Fig. 4) operates a likeslide 12 which is mounted on the opposite side of the block in the samemanner as slide 61, wherefore like characters of reference will be usedfor corresponding parts, and the description of the same need not berepeated.

The block 59 on rod 6 .-is attached to the tiebar 13. Thehorlzont'ally'extending arm 14 of lever 51 is equipped with a rod 15which passes through an opening in bent arm 16, and about which iscoiled a compression spring 11 so that the arm 16 will be moved up anddown with the arm 14 of lever 51. A block 18 attached to.the arm 16 ispivotedron a stud 19 carried by the projecting end 60-}o'f block 59,whereby the upward motion of arm 16 causes its vertical portion 6|(Fig. 1) to swing outward and expel the cigar from the jaws then at theadjacent station of the transfer as will be hereinafter described.

The intermittently traveling conveyor chains 62 (Fig. 1) are driven inthe same manner as disclosed in my Belgian patent and co-pendingapplication S. N. 629,959 referred to above. Chains 62 drive a pair ofsprockets v83 on a shaft 84 which carries a gear 85 driving a pinion 86on the turret shaft 81; and the latter carries a sprocket 86, a chain 89running over sprocket 75 6| driving a sprocket 90 mounted on a shaft"9|.

A bevel gear 92 on shaft 9I meshes with a bevel gear 93 rotating freelyon the rod 60. The gear 93 supports the turn-table which consists of aplate 94 mounted on a slotted block 95 and provided at each side with apair of integral depending fingers constituting jaws, and a like numberof pairs of jaws 96 fitted into the slots of block 95 and pivotallymounted on pins 91 carried by the block to coact with the integral jawsof plate 94 to hold cigars inserted therebetween. Each of the jaws 96 isprovided with a stud 98 carrying a spring 99 which is interposed betweenthe finger and the base of gear 93, whereby each pair of jaws 96 holdsthe inserted cigar against the opposed jaws on plate 94.

The cam 2| actuates a roller I00 carried by a' lever IOI fulcrumed on astud I02 supported in a lug I03 (Fig. 3) of bracket 26, the slotted end.of lever I 0| engaging a pin I04 in a collar I05. Collar I05 and acollar I06 are clamped to a sleeve I01 which slides on the rod 60.Thecollar I06 is equipped with guide pins I08 which pass through slotsin the slide block 10, the upper end of the pins I08 being fastened inthe ejector plate 66. arranged that they engage the inner ends of thegrippers 96 (Fig. 4) 'at the cigar receiving and discharging stations. 1

When the leading cigar C in the row of cigars deposited on the belts l0from the cigar magazine (Fig. 2) stops against the cam actuated fingers35, which are then in their down position Ejector pins I09 on plate 66are so as indicated by the dotted lines, the clamp flngers 39 are intheir raised position, and the conveyor "belts I0 then momentarily stopand the fingers 35 are raised while the fingers 39 are lowered on thecigars immediately behind the leading cigar. The leading cigar is thusfreed on the belts I0 while the cam-actuated slides 61 and 12 advanceinto the space between the belts I0 (Fig. 4) until the fingers 64overlie the cigar. While the fingers 64 are advancing they aremaintained in an elevated position by means ofrollers 65 riding alongthe base of the ejector plate 66. Meanwhile the sleeve I01 rises, thuslifting the collar I06 with the plate 66 and permitting the tensionsprings 0 to press the fingers into engagement with the cigar to clampit against the forward ends of the slides 61 and 12. During the ascentof plate 66 the ejector pins I09 are brought into engagement with thepairs of spring-tensioned jaws 96 then at the cigar receiving anddischarging stations, thus lifting the same. The arm 6| of lever 16 inthe meantime has moved towards the cigar C then at the dischargingstation of the cigar transfer (Fig. 1) and finally pushes the same fromthe open jaws of the turn-table. A stop screw III engaging the lever '16controls the extent of the movement of its arm 8|.

In being pushed from the jaws of the turntable the cigar encounters thefingers II2 which are carried by cam-actuated parallel levers (notshown) to move forward with the cigar C and keep it from turning whilebeing delivered to the pockets formed by the lifter frames II3 andthefingers I I4. Reference may be had to my Belgian patent No. 395,520 ormy prior application, S. N. 629,959, referred to above fora completedisclosure of the mechanism for actuating the fingers H2. The driveshaft I8 carries a bevel gear II 5 which meshes with a gear, I I6mounted on shaft II1, thereby rotating cams (not shown) on shaft I I1which impart a reciprocating movement to the rods H8 relative to thelifters H3 in which they are mounted, thereby causing the fingers I I4to come to rest on the cigar ejected from'the jaws of the turn-table ortransfer 54. The lifters II5 then move out to their dotted 5 position(Fig. 1) and then move vertically, thus inserting the cigar between oneset of jaws of the turret mounted on shaft 51. v

The turret consists of stationary grippers or jaws I25 and movablegrippers or jaws IN, the latter carrying pins I22 successively engagingcam-actuated knock-out arms not shown, which open the turret jaws. Whenthe knock-out arms release the turret jaws I2I,- suitable springs pressthe jaws I2I against the inserted cigar to hold the same against jawsI25. In the interim the rods ill have been lifted to release the fingersill from the cigar. the lifters II5 then being moved back totheirinitial position in an armate path as indicated by the arrowsyandare then ready to receive the next cigar to be transferred. Furtherdescription of the mechanism for actuating the turret jaws I2I and thelifters H5 and fingers H5 is deemed unnecessary as reference may be hadto my above mentioned Belgian Patent No. 395,520 or my application S. N.629,959, for a complete disclosure of the same.

Meanwhile the slides 51 and 12 have retreated and in sodoing deposit thecigar C clamped thereon by the fingers 55 (Fig. 3) in the jaws 95 and 95then at the receiving station of the turn-table; at the completion oftheir retreating stroke the slides have moved back sufficiently to allowthe turret 95 to turn. The arm 5i having also been returned to itsoriginal position, the plate 55 descends, allowing the fingers 55 toclamp the cigar C.

The turn-table and the turret are then turned.

the former carrying the cigar C to the discharge 40 position C (Fig. l),and the latter carries the cigar C previously delivered thereto by thelifter 5, to the position C" for delivering to the conveyor. 'At thelatter position electors I25 and fingers I25 actuated as shown in myabove mentioned application 8. N. 629,959, clamp the cigar C" shortlybefore the knock-out arms engage the pins I22 of the movable turret jawsI2I and open all the turret jaws. The ejectors I 25 and fingers I25 thenadvance the.cigar towards the adjacent pocket of the conveyor chains 52,the fingers I25 being mounted on reciprocable rods I25 and movingforward until they strike against the blocks I25 on guide rods I21,thereby moving the blocks until they rest against the bracket I25. Theblocksti25 in moving away from the fingers I55 and I5I which formthepockets of the conveyor, allow suitable springs to close the fingersupon the cigar C" in the manner shown in my prior application 8. N.

629,959. Thereupon the conveyor 52 advances step by step toward thebanding unit B where a band is applied to the cigars.

The shaft II5 carries a plate cam I55 in one face of which is provided acam groove with 55 which engages a cam roller carried by abellcranklever I55 loosely mounted on shaft I551: and connected by a link I52 toan arm I55 fastened on shaft Illa. The motion thus imparted to shaft I IIn rocks the arms I55 attachedto shaft 10 Ia. and the arms I51 looselymounted on shaft III, the arms I51 being connected to the arms I55 bylinks I55. In this manner the fingers II2, which are a part of the linksI55, are actuated.

Shaft H8 also carries plate cams I55 and I55 75 in one face of which areprovided cam grooves pressed rods II5 on the upper ends of which arefastened the fingers I I4. I

In the other face of the cam I55 is provided a cam groove with whichengages a cam roller carried by a cam lever 252 fastened on shaft II5a,operating arms 255 having gearsegments meshing with racks 255 of rodsI25. The rods I25 carry the fingers I25 which slide on the plunger rodsI21 carrying offset blocks I25. The rods I25 and I21 are mounted inbrackets I25 fastened on shaft 55. The chains'52, which carry the setsof grippers I55 and Ill, are intermittently driven by a Geneva gear (notshown) and drive sprockets 55 on shaft 55.- The gear 55 on shaft 55drives the pinion 55 on shaft 51 and thereby drives the turret whichconsists of the stationary members I25 and the movable members I 2|, themembers I2I carrying pins I11 successively engaging knockout arms I15clamped on shaft I55a. The cam surface on the periphery of the cam I55operates arm I19 on shaft I59a carrying a link I55 attached to an arm I"actuating the shaft I55a.

A cam lever I52 on shaft I550. provided with V a cam roller engaging ina cam track of cam I55 actuates a rod I54 connected to a forked arm I55clamped on shaft I51a journaled in pedestals I55a. Arms I51 clamped toshaft I510 are pivotally connected to the ejector I55 slidably mountedin grooves in the hubs of the stationary turret members I15. a

When the cigar C ejected from the tum-table encounters the fingers II2the latter move forward with the cigar and keep it from turning until itenters the pockets formed by the lifter frames H5 and the fingers H5.The'turning of shaft I55 brings the low portions of cam ledges I15beneath the cam rollers "I on blocks I12, thus allowing thespring-tensioned rods II5 to descend .and thereby causing the fingersI15 to come to rest on cigar C. The revolving of cams I55 and I55engaging the cam rollers carried by the lugs I52 of the lifter framesthen raises the latter and lifts the cigar into the path of the turret.Then the cam-operated arm I15 descends and torsion springs (not show.having one of their ends fixed in the movafi'a turret members I15 andtheir other ends anchored to the shaft 51 return the jaws to restagainst the cigar. In the interim the high portion of cam ledges I15have come into engagement with the rollers "I, thus lifting thespring-tensioned rods H5 and releasing the-fingers from the cigar. Thecontinued rotation of cams I55 and I55, through arms I55 and I51,actuates the links I58 connected to lifter frames II5 which are therebyreturned from their up position in a curved path, being then ready toreceive the next cigar to be transferred; What is claimed is: Y

' i. The combination with endless belts adapted to horizontally feed arow of cigars sidewise in side by side contacting relation, of atumtable revoluble about a vertical axis and provided with a pluralityof sets of horizontal jaws at equal intervals thereon, each set beingadapted to grip a cigar inserted therebetween, means for horizontallytransporting the leading cigar from said row and inserting it into theset of jaws then at 5 the receiving station of said turn-table,mechanism for periodically turning said turn-table about its verticalaxis through a traction of one revolution to carry the gripped cigar tothe discharging station oi the turn-table and a device 1 for ejectingthe gripped cigar horizontally from the set of jaws at the dischargingstation of the Y tum-table.

2; The combination with spaced endless belts adapted to horizontallyfeed a row 01! cigarssidewise, 01' a tum-table revoluble about avertical axis and provided with a plurality oi sets of horia zontal jawsat equalintervals thereon, each set being adapted to grip a cigarinserted therebetween, means for horizontally transporting the leadingcigar from said row and inserting it into the set of jaws then at thereceiving station of said turn-table, mechanism for periodicallyturnsioned fingers on said slides for clamping said a leading cigar insaid row to said slides, whereby the cigar willbe lodged inthe set ofjaws at the receiving station oi the turn-table and thus released fromsaid fingers during the retreating stroke of said slides. v 4 a 3. Thecombination with spaced endless belts adapted to feed a row oi cigarssidewise, of a turn-table provided with a set oi horizontal jaws 40adapted to receive a cigar therebetween, and

means for horizontally transporting the leading cigar from saidrow'andinserting it into said set oi jaws, said means including a pairof reciproeable slides movable into the space between the endless belts,and spring-tensioned fin-' Bers on said slides for clamping the leadingcigar in said row to said slides, whereby the cigar will be lodged insaid set of jaws, and thus released from :fd fingers duringthe'retreating stroke 01 said des. j 9 4. The combination with aturn-table revoluble about a vertical axis and provided with a pluralityoi sets oi horizontal jaws, each set being adapted to grip a cigarinserted therebetween, means for inserting a cigar horizontally into theset of laws at the receiving station 01' said turntable, mechanism forperiodically turning said turn-table about its vertical axis throu h afraction of one revolution to carry the gripped cigar m to thedischarging station oi the turn-table,

means for gripping and ejecting the cigar horisontally from the set ofjaws at the discharging station of the turn-table and carrying it awayvertically while maintaining a grip thereon.

5. The combination with a tum-table revoiuble about 2a vertical axis andprovided with a set of jaws adapted to grip a cigarrand means forejecting the cigar from said jaws. said means in-;

eluding a cam-actuated lever adapted to eject thecigar from said jawsand movable litters and fingers coacting to form a pocket in which theejected cigar is received and carried away vertically. v

. 6. The combination with a, turn-table revoluble about a vertical axisand provided with a set of jaws adapted to grip a cigar, of means forinserting a cigar into said jaws, said means including a pair ofreciprocable slides moving transversely oi said laws, and spring-pressedfingers mounted on said slides and adapted to clamp a cigar thereon,whereby a cigar clamped on said slides by said fingers will be lodged inthe laws and thus released from the fingers during the retreating strokeof the slides. I

I. The combination with meansi'or horizontally advancing a row of cigarssidewise, of a conveyor extending transversely with respect to said rowof cigars and including an endless series of grippers adapted to' carrycigars sidewise to band-applying position, and mechanisni forperiodically removing the leading cigar horizontally from said row andturning it in a lmrizontal plane to bring it into a position adjacentsaid conveyor and then delivering it to, the grippers oi said conveyor.1

. 8. The combination with means for horizontally advancing a row ofcigars sidewise,'oi a conveyor extending transversely with respect tosaid row of cigars and adapted to carry cigars sidewise to,band-applying position, andmechanism for periodically removing'theleading cigar horiz'ontally from said rowand turning it in a horizontalplane to bring it into a position adjacent said conveyor andthendelivering it to the conveyor, said means includinga set ofintermittent- 1y driven endless belts, and said mechanism operating togrip and remove the leading cigar iromsaidrow while the same is at restand continue gripping the cigar until it is delivered to said conveyor.

9. The combination with means for advancing a row of cigars sidewise inside by side contacting relation, oi a conveyor extending transverselywith respect to said row of cigars and adapted to carrycigars sidewiseto band-apply position, and mechanism for periodically removing theleading cigar from said row and turning it in a horizontal plane tobring it into a position adjacentsaid conveyor and then delivering it tothe conveyor, said mechanism operating to grip the cigar while removingit from said row and continue r pp n it until it is delivered to saidconveyor.

10. The combination with means for advancing a row of cigars sidewise,oi a conveyor disposed atright angles to said row of cigars andincluding an endless member and acts of grippers carried by. said memberand adapted to carry cigars .sidewise to band-applying position, andmechanism for periodically removing the leading cigar from said row andturning it horizontally-throughan arc of degrees to bring it into aposition aligned with said conveyor and then delivering it to a set oigrippers of said conveyor.

sossrn A. moment.

